The Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) announced that P50, 000 is set aside for a gold medal, P30, 000 for a silver, and P20, 000 for a bronze.
During the 2019 edition in Rabat, Morocco, Botswana won five gold, three silver, and six bronze medals, and the country finished 13th place on the medals table. Athletics and boxing were the toast of the class of 2019 but this time around, things are not going according to plan.
At the time of going to print, athletics had bagged a silver medal from the 4x400 mixed relay team setting a national record of 3:13.99. Tumo Nkape cruised to a bronze medal in the men’s 800m. Adrian Robinson won two bronze medals in the men’s 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke. Lethabo Sekano won a bronze medal in the women’s 68kg Kumite.
The women’s Kata team of Sekano, Amantle Leburu and Lesego Masimola walked away with a bronze medal. Karabo Kula of Taekwando scooped another bronze for Botswana. The men’s beach volleyball team of Jack Sekao and George Chiswaniso also settled for a bronze medal. Boxer, Keamogetse Sadie Kenosi lost in the semi-final 5-0 against Algeria’s Selmounia Chahiri, securing another bronze medal for Botswana. Botswana chef de mission, Shadrack Kapeko, told MmegiSport that they were looking forward to the men’s 4x400m relay team to defend their title and win the first gold medal for the country.
The relay team was in action last night. When asked about preparations for the games, Kapeko said more could have been done. “Remember these games were announced four years ago and preparations began then, although there are challenges,” Kapeko said. Meanwhile, judo competed with a team of athletes who were making their debut at the games, and they were eliminated. Judo head coach, Rene Williams, said his team comprised Tumiso Phuthego (men Under 60kg) and Botho Babutsi (women Under 48kg). “The two judokas were making their debut at an event of this magnitude, as it is their first year in the seniors category. We had good preparations because we have been working since the start of the Olympic circle road to Paris 2024,” he said. After winning his first two fights against opponents from Madagascar and Malawi, Phuthego qualified for the quarter-finals where he lost against Simon Zulu of Zambia. Williams said Phuthego was to be drafted in the bronze medal category, only to be beaten by an opponent from Senegal, finishing in position seven.
Babutsi won her fight against Congo and qualified for the quarterfinals where she faced Michaela Whitebooi from South Africa. She went on to compete in the bronze medal match where she lost against an opponent from Madagascar, finishing seventh. “We are satisfied given the results and the work produced by my athletes for their first time to compete in this big seniors level. The level of the African Games in terms of judo was very high because it was a preparatory competition for all judokas before the upcoming Senior African Championships, and also a qualifying competition for Olympic Games, which takes place in April,” Williams said.
Boxing coach, Thebe Setlalekgosi, said there is a need to improve mindset and show more hunger. “Boxing is a brutal sport and in most cases, the winner will be the one who wants it more. Our boxers are technically superior, but they lack that finishing punch. We should have won most fights, but we lacked that killer blow,” Setlalekgosi said.
Regarding Olympic qualification, Setlalekgosi said it is going to be tough not just for Botswana but Africa too. He added that the world qualifications are tough. The Botswana Boxing Association president, Gilbert Khunwane, said some of the countries that were competing against Botswana at the African Games had prepared more and had competed at the first Olympic qualifiers that were held in Italy. “Before the Olympic qualifiers, they were in training camps, something we did not have. Let us hope we will get an opportunity to compete at the second qualifiers in May,” he said.
Tennis team also had a bad experience in Accra. Medal prospect, Denzel Seetso, did not play due to a flu attack. Ekua Refilwe Youri was a no-show after her team, the University of San Antonio, refused to release her because of university games. The Botswana Tennis Association president, Oaitse Thipe, said Chelsea Chakanyuka fell sick with only Mark Nawa making it to round three of the tournament. “Chakanyuka played but lost in the first round. Our team was made up of players aged 17 and 18 years, as they are preparing for the Davis Cup world qualifiers in July,” he said.
